Veneer-cutting-machine attachment



March 13, 1928. I v 1,662,314

, J. F. HYLAND VENEER CUTTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed July 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet WIHIIIHIHH ll HHH HHIIHI fawn/or Wines: fir 2221 7'! lane? March 13, 1928. 1,662,314

J. F. HYLAND VENEER CUTTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed July 10, 1926 2 t 2 Jill/2212a) V1711? I 'fi [221 f5?! fang. 57W fiw/V%,Mw%/arz1gr Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT o JOHN F. HYLAND, OF DES Monies IOWA.

Application filed July 10, 1926. Serial No. 121,697.

1,662,314 F F ICE.

The object of my invention is to provide a veneer cutting machine attachment ofsimple, durable and inexpensive construction which may be attached to any make of rotary type veneer cutting machine.

In the cutting of the veneer parts from logs, it is a common practice to trim the logs until they are of a uniform diameter. The logs are then rotated adjacent to a cutting knife in such manner, as to trim on athin sheet, for example, one-twenty-eighth of an inchin thickness.

The practice in veneer mills involves the stationing of three men to take the sheet as it comes from the veneer cutter and tear it into strips or sections. These sections have ragged edges as result of the tearing. Sometimes where the grain of the wood is substantially straight, the edges are almost straight, but in many instances, due to the fact that the grain does not run vertically of the log or to knots or, imperfections in the log, the line of the tear is not straight.

In either event, the strips or sections formed by the tearing must be trimmed on a clipping machine with the loss of a very substantial amount of the stock and with the further and more important result that the successive sheets can not be placed together in such a way as to properly match the grain.

There are some patents showing theoretical machines for cutting the veneer strip with a knife.

It is my object to provide in connection with a veneer cutting machine of the rotary veneer lathe, an attachment by which a groove can be cut in the log lengthwise thereof. It thus follows that the veneer sheets come from the knife in sections: having perfectly straight edges.

There is effected a substantial saving in material and economies in labor cost. A better product results because the veneer sheets from an entire log can be accurately matched, so that in making furniture, the grain will match properly.

More particularly, it is my object to pro vide in such an attachment, a frame mounted at one end to swing in a horizontal plane, which frame carries a motor adjustable laterally of the frame for cutting todiiferent depths into the log, and adjustable longitu dinally of the frame for cutting the entire.

length of the log.

In this connection, it is my purpose to provide novel features of construction in the mounting of the frame and of the saw and motor.

A further purpose isto provide in such a machine an adjustable stop for determining the depth of the cut of the saw. lVith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangementand COlHblIlEttlOIlOf the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplate-d are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a rotary veneer lathe shown somewhat diagrammatically equipped with an attachment embodymg my inventionj F1gure2 1s a front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. V Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line H of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. j p

In the accompanying drawings, 1, have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the supporting frame elementsof a rotary lat-he of the type used for cutting veneer from a log 11. j

In a veneer machine of this type, thelog 11 is gripped at the endsby the adjustable chucks 12 and is rotated so as to bring it against an adjustable knife, by which a thin strip of veneeris cut from the. log during the rotating operation. r

I have already explained that the ordinary practice is to place two men in such position as to tear the continuous sheet coming from the log into strips or sections. The disadvantages of tearing the sheets have already been explained.

In orderto cut a saw groove longitudinally 1n the log, so that the veneer Wlll come off in sect1ons,I provide my attachment,

which is the subject matter of thisapplicw I tion.

Supported on the frame of the veneer machine a suitable bracket or the like 13,

in which is journaled a short spindle or the I provide a heavy, rectangular, horizontal frame indicated generally at A in the drawings, which has at one end the cross frame members 18 rigidly supported on the post 15. The longitudinal frame members are indi rated at 19 and are connected attheir end farthest from the post 15 by a cross frame member 20. Braces 21 are connected with the frame members 19 and with the post. 15.

The. entire frame A is thus permitted to swing in a horiztmtal plane with the rotating post 15.

The frame A in operative position stands parallel with the log 11, when the latter is in position for cutting veneer therefrom, and when not in use, can he swung to position extending away from one end of the veneer machine at right angles thereto, as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

Transverse shafts Q2 and Q?) are mounted on the frame A in bearings '24 near the opposite ends of the frame. On the shafts 22 and 23 are sprocket gears and 26 on which travels a chain 27.

Mounted to travel lengthwise of the frame A are a motor and saw. For supporting the motor and saw, I provide a frame, comprising the parallel JDOIHlJtt'S 2S and the parallel members 29 suitably connected together.

The frame members 19 are inwardly opening channels. At the lower edge of each frame member 19 is fixed an angle bar 30. At the ends of the frame members 28 are grooved rollers 31 traveling on the vertical tlanges of the angles 30 and projecting into the channels formed by the frame members 19.

Resting on the frame members 28 and adapted to he slidably adjustable thereon longitudinall of such frame members 28 are angle bars 352, which are connected at one end by an angle frame member or the like 33.

The angle bars are shorter than the distance between the frame members 29, so as to permit the frame members or angle bars 32 to be adjusted on the frame members 28 laterally of the frame A.

Secured to the angles 32 and hanging downwardly therefrom are the angle supports 84:: which rigidly support a motor 35. These angles 34 are at the ends of the angles 32, which will be farthest away from the log 11. when the device is in use.

At the other end of the angle bars 32 are short angles 36, supporting the angle bar 33 in which is mounted the shank 38 of a supporting hook 39. T he shank 38 is screwthreaded to receive a nut 40 at its upper end and the hook 89 supports the motor 35.

On the shaft 4-1 of the motor 35 is mounted a saw 42.

The lower stretch of the chain 27 has its ends connected by eye-bolts 43, as shown in Figure 1, these eve'bolts being adjustably mounted in the upright flanges of the angles 32. On the shaft 22 is a crank handle M; by

the manipulation of which the motor 3.) and its supporting frame or carriage ma be caused to travel longitudinally of the frame A.

On the frame 10 of the veneer machine is mounted an upwardly projecting bracket it. in which is mounted an adjusting screw it? designed to serve as a stop for limiting the swinging movement of the frame A. and thus determining the depth of the Saw groove made bv the saw l2. This depth can also be determined by adjusting the angles 32 laterally on the frame member: 8.

When this adjustment has been secured. it may be maintained by inserting suitable pins at? in holes 48 in the frame members E28.

Other means for making this adjustment and maintaining it, may be provided.

in the practical operation of my improved veneer attachment. when the attaclnnent is not in use, it is swung to its position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, extending away from the veneer machine at rightangles thereto. 7

When it is desired to cut a saw groove longit'udinally in the log '11, the frame A is swung on its pivot; from its dotted line position shown in Figure l. to its full line position shown in that figure.

The stop 4-6 an be used to cause a rather tine adjustment for preventing the saw 42 from cutting deep enough to strike the chucks.

Sometimes it is desirable to cut the groove for only a certain depth, rather than to cut the full possible depth. For example, it may be desirable to make one cut through a knot or imperfection for a certain depth, and then when the veneer has been cut by the knife 47 to the depth of the groove thus formed it may be desirable to out another groove at another point in the diameter of the log through another imperfection. The adjustment of the saw for regulating the depth of its out is accomplished by sliding the angles 32 on the frame members Assuming that the frame members 32 have been so adjusted to cause any depth of the cut desired and that the saw carriage is at the right-hand end of the frame A, as shown in Figure 1, then the frame A is swung to position alongside the veneer machine and the motor 35 is started for operating the saw 42. The crank 44: is then used for causing the carriage which supports the motor and saw to travel toward the left-hand end of the frame A for cutting a groove in the log 11, as illustrated for instance in Figure This operation can he quickly and easily performed.

After such a groove has been cut in the log, the frame A is swung back to stand at right angles to the veneer machine, and th veneer machine is operated for cutting the sections of veneer from the log.

ltlti lie ' of important advantages, some of which have already been referred to. i

It reduces the labor cost of operating the veneer machine, because it eliminates the necessity for tearing the veneer. It effects a substantial saving in material, because where it is used, the veneer is cutinto regular sections or straight cross lines. This saving of material also materially reduces labor cost, because it means that a greater number of square feet of veneer may be cut from each It will be seen from the foregoing that my attachn'ient is easy to handle and is very simple in construction.

Because the frame A is swung in a. horizontal plane, it can be handled with a minimum amount of power. At the same time, it is possible to make a sufliciently heavy frame to support a motor, which will operate a saw of sufficient size to cut any depth of groove desired.

It is unnecessary to raise or lower the motor and saw and by hanging and swinging them in the manner herein shown and moving the motor carriage from one end of the frame to the other, as herein explained, one man can manipulate the attachment wit-hout difficulty.

It is obvious that numerous changes could be made in the details of the structure and the arrangement of the parts of my improved veneer cutting machine attachment without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover bymy claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary veneer lathe having means for holding the log in horizontal position and for cutting a veneer strip therefrom, with an attachment having a saw arranged in a horizontal plane, means for mounting the saw to travel toward and from the log in a horizontal plane, and means for moving the saw in a horizontal plane along the log for cutting a horizontal kerf in the log.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotary veneer lathe having means for holding the log in horizontal position, with an attachment comprising a sup port, a frame mounted to swing horizontally on said support, a motor, and a saw operatively connected therewith mounted to travel longitudinally on the frame horizontally, whereby when the frame is swung to position adjacent to the log, the saw longitudinally of the log for cutting a horizontal kerf lengthwise of the logi,

3. In a: device of the class described, the combination of a rotary veneer lat-he having means for holding the log in horizontal position, with an attachment comprising a su port, a frame mounted to swing horizontal y onsaid support, a motor, and a saw operatively connected therewith mounted to travel longitudinally on the frame horizontally, whereby when the frame is tion adjacent to the log, the saw may be moved longitudinally of the log for cutting a horizontal kerf lengthwise ofthe log, the

frame being vertically ad ustable on the support to permit the saw to be adjusted to posi tion for cutting its kerf readily in the 10 a 4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotary veneer lathe having means for holding the log in horizontal position, with an attachment comprising a support, a frame mounted to swing horizontally on said support, a motor, and a saw operatively connected therewith mounted to travel longitudinally on the frame horizontally, whereby when the frame is swung to position adjacent to the log, the saw may be moved longitudinally of the log for cutting a horizontal kerf lengthwise of the 10 said veneer lathe and attachment frame iaving c0- acting parts for limiting the depth of the saw kerf. 5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotary veneer lathe havin means for holding a log in horizontal position with an attachment including the saw support, means for mounting said support to move horizontally toward or from the log, means for mounting the saw for horizontal travel on the support, and means for actuating the saw whereby when the support is moved adjacent to the log and the saw is moved lengthwise of the support, the saw will cut a horizontal kerf radially of the log.

6. An attachment for veneer lathes comprising an upright support rotatably mountcc, a horizontal frame mounted on and projecting from said support, asaw mounted on said frame for transverse adjustment with relation thereto and for longitudinal, sliding movement thereon, and means for sliding the saw on said frame and for rotating the saw, whereby when the frame is moved to position parallel with a log,and the saw is slid on the frame, it will cutahorizontal radial kerf in the log.

7. An attachment for veneer lathes comprising an upright support rotatably mounted, a horizontal frame mounted on and projecting from said support, a saw mounted on may be moved swung to posh radial kerf in the log, said support being mounted near one end of the veneer lathe, whereby the frame may he swung to position where it Will not interfere with free access to the 10;; holding means.

JOHN F. IlYliA Ni). 

